Underscoring that the Obonjan Riviera project provided an entirely new concept of tourism services in Croatia, Sibenik Mayor Zeljko Busi, said the project fitted the vision of developing Sibenik's innovative tourism and gave an impetus to the overall development of that coastal town.
One of the co-initiators of the project, British investor Dan Blackledge, said the island would receive its first guests on 18 July. The season will last 8 weeks, but the investors plan to extend the tourist season next year, to last from mid-May to late September.
The investments in the first year will amount to approximately EUR 10 million, Blackledge said, adding that investments would go up as the plan was to prolong the tourist season.
The island will be returned to Croatia after the 49-year-long concession expired.
The project was welcomed by tourism minister advisor Ivo Basic, who said the Tourism Ministry supported all quality investments in the tourism infrastructure, notably those aimed at positioning Croatia as a year-round destination.